The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1887-04-05
CONSPIRACY AGAINST THE CAR.

1t is the curse of absolutism that pop |
ular discomfort takes the form OF at |
tempts against the life of an autocrat.
The popular idea Identifies the head of |
the State personally with every act OF
tyranny, every administrative abuse |
and every instance OF corruption, and
the irrational conclusion is reached that
redress and reform are only to be reached
by killing the supposed author of all
public wrongs. Revolution is the only
effective remedy in such conditions but
assassination is not revolution. England,
under parliamentary forms, was cursed
with more intolerable tyranny than
Russia has TO complain of to-day with
out these forms, and at a time also when
its civilization was far ahead of what
Russia may hope for in that direction
within century at least. But English
patience having become exhausted I'M
der the Stuarts, the nation rose and by
force of arms accomplished that which
could not be effected by constitutional
methods. It is true the English Parlia-
ment beheaded one King for his treason
and crimes against the Commonwealth,
but although the trial was an unconsti-
tutional procedure it was conducted ac-
cording to legal forms, and established
precedent which may be followed should
the necessity again arise. This is not
likely, however. The English people
rule; the Sovereign reigns.
In Russia, however, absolutism with
out popular representation is the sys-
tenn of government. If it were possible
to isolate the dominions of the Gar as
completely as Japan was for centuries,
the autocratic system might remain un-
challenged, its abuses being acquiesced
in as the natural outcome of purely
national government. But the spread OF
education, travel, commerce, the indus
trial arts, railroads and telegraphs have
rendered such isolation impossible, and in
exact proportion as Russia advances in
tellectually and industrially, 80 does the
friction between the principle OF popular
rights and personal sovereignty increase.
It may be said to have begun under the
iron rule of Car Nicholas. It was
recognized by his successor Alexander
IL. who sought to remedy the evil by
the grand reform which signalized his
accession to power-the emancipation of
the serfs. There his concession to popu-
lar rights stopped. He still remained
Autocrat of All the Russias, and ruled
through corrupt bureaucracy. Mean
while the territorial magnates had been
impoverished by the emancipation ukase,
and q new middle class having arisen
through trade and manufactures, a
formidable opposition to the centralized
despotism of St. Petersburgh was devel-
oped. As it could not find public ex-
preston it took the form of secret con-
spiracy, out of which Nihilism was
evolved, and more recently the secret or
ganization working upon what may be
termed constitutional lines" which is
now accused of participating in the re-
cent conspiracy against the life of the
Gar.
1t remains only to'add that Alexander
H. pushed his conquests into Central
Asia and made war against Turkey to
divert his subjects from home affairs.
While the wars lasted he was the most
popular of sovereigns; but when the
treaty of San Stefano was signed and
the army was recalled the old discon-
tent was renewed, and he was blown to
pieces by bomb on his way to church. |
His son, Alexander III, following the
footsteps of his predecessor, has narrow
" escaped similar fate on his way to
attend services in commemoration of
his fathers untimely death.
The Gar does not appear to profit by
his experience. Police vigilance is in
creased, hundreds Of people innocent of
any crime have been arrested, and great
cruelties and injustice will be inflicted.
But this viii not settle the difficulty be-
tween Alexander the Autocrat and his
subjects. He may go to war and drain
the resources of his Empire by an appeal
to its national pride; but war cannot be
perpetual, and upon his return, after
peace has been declared, he will have to
face the political problem once more,
and perhaps pay the penalty of his stub
born disregard of human rights and pop
nlar liberty with his life.